A man pretending to be interested in buying the cell phone sprayed the two men who were selling it with pepper spray and took off running with the phone, La Mesa police said.

The robbery suspect was chased down by his victims and held until police arrived and arrested him. Police also arrested a man suspected of being the man’s getaway driver, police said. Both men were booked into County Jail on robbery and conspiracy charges.

The incident happened about 7:20 p.m. in the parking lot of the Red Lobster restaurant on Murray Drive near Grossmont Center Drive.